On August 26, Movado Group (NYSE:MOV) reported second-quarter fiscal 2027 results that pushed adjusted earnings per share to $0.54 from $0.23 a year earlier, while net sales climbed 4.9% to $169.8 million. The jewelry and watch company also confirmed it will stop issuing annual financial guidance going forward, choosing instead to focus commentary on near-term trends. For a business built on Swiss craftsmanship and a stable of licensed fashion brands, the quarter marked a fifth straight period of positive momentum, and it came with a few surprises tucked inside the numbers.
Some of the headline strength came from a one-time source: $3.2 million in IEEPA duty refunds tied to tariffs paid between February 2025 and May 2026, which lifted GAAP gross margin to 59.4% from 54.1%. But strip that out and adjusted gross margin still rose 340 basis points to 57.5%, driven by favorable channel and product mix, strategic pricing, and less discounting. Growth was broad rather than concentrated in one line item. US net sales rose 4.9%, international sales rose 4.9% as well (4.1% in constant currency), and Latin America and India posted particularly strong results.
Movado.com sales jumped 8%, and Olivia Burton sales grew 23%, powered by small-shaped watches focused on the U.K. and US markets. The company also flagged a resurgence in traditional watch interest among younger buyers, pointing to the Baby Face mini strap watch, which sold out more than 400 units on movado.com in under a month. Looking ahead, Movado is expanding its Tapestry partnership to launch Kate Spade watches starting next fiscal year. The balance sheet backs up the momentum, with $211.6 million in cash, no debt, and $16.6 million already returned to shareholders through dividends this year.
Not every piece of this quarter travels into the second half. Management was explicit that the favorable mix of lower duty rate inventory that padded margins is temporary and is not expected to continue, and second-half gross margin guidance of 55% to 56% reflects that normalization. Sallie DeMarsilis also noted that gross margin gains were partially offset by higher shipping costs tied to fuel surcharges and rising e-commerce volume.
Geographically, the Middle East remains a soft spot, with Efraim Grinberg citing tourism-related headwinds in a region still affected by regional conflict. Operating expenses rose to $85.7 million from $80.6 million, largely on higher performance-based compensation and marketing spend. There is also a smaller but notable item: a $0.2 million pretax charge tied to a misconduct investigation within a Dubai-based Swiss subsidiary branch. And while Movado expects to recover another $6.8 million in IEEPA duties, it has chosen not to recognize that gain until the cash actually arrives, a reminder that not all of this quarter's tailwind is guaranteed to repeat.
#second
Some of the headline strength came from a one-time source: $3.2 million in IEEPA duty refunds tied to tariffs paid between February 2025 and May 2026, which lifted GAAP gross margin to 59.4% from 54.1%. But strip that out and adjusted gross margin still rose 340 basis points to 57.5%, driven by favorable channel and product mix, strategic pricing, and less discounting. Growth was broad rather than concentrated in one line item. US net sales rose 4.9%, international sales rose 4.9% as well (4.1% in constant currency), and Latin America and India posted particularly strong results.
Movado.com sales jumped 8%, and Olivia Burton sales grew 23%, powered by small-shaped watches focused on the U.K. and US markets. The company also flagged a resurgence in traditional watch interest among younger buyers, pointing to the Baby Face mini strap watch, which sold out more than 400 units on movado.com in under a month. Looking ahead, Movado is expanding its Tapestry partnership to launch Kate Spade watches starting next fiscal year. The balance sheet backs up the momentum, with $211.6 million in cash, no debt, and $16.6 million already returned to shareholders through dividends this year.
Not every piece of this quarter travels into the second half. Management was explicit that the favorable mix of lower duty rate inventory that padded margins is temporary and is not expected to continue, and second-half gross margin guidance of 55% to 56% reflects that normalization. Sallie DeMarsilis also noted that gross margin gains were partially offset by higher shipping costs tied to fuel surcharges and rising e-commerce volume.
Geographically, the Middle East remains a soft spot, with Efraim Grinberg citing tourism-related headwinds in a region still affected by regional conflict. Operating expenses rose to $85.7 million from $80.6 million, largely on higher performance-based compensation and marketing spend. There is also a smaller but notable item: a $0.2 million pretax charge tied to a misconduct investigation within a Dubai-based Swiss subsidiary branch. And while Movado expects to recover another $6.8 million in IEEPA duties, it has chosen not to recognize that gain until the cash actually arrives, a reminder that not all of this quarter's tailwind is guaranteed to repeat.
#second
8 hours ago
